WEBVTT CASES HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN MANY OF US REALIZE.PEGGY: THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE, HAYEY.EXPERTS SAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A WOMAN IS BEATEN EVERY NINE SECONDS.OVERLAND POLICE RESPONDED TO ONEOF THOSE CALLS EARLY THER WEEK.38-YEAR-OLD RYAN GAN IS CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING AND BATTERY, IN AN ESTRANGED CASE OF HIS WIFE BEING LEFT IN THE HOSPITAL.COURT DOCUMENTS FILED FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER IN DECEMBER.THE WOMAN OUTLINES A BUILD-UP OFABUSE, ESCALATING VIOLENCE AND LIVING HER LIFE IN FEAR.JANAY IS WITH JOHNSON COUNTY'S SAFE HOME. >> A SAFE HOME IS MORE THAN A SHELTER THAT -- YOU KNOW, CALL US, IT'S HERE.IT'S FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL.REPORTER: SAFE HOME COUNSELS PEOPLE ABOUT SETTING UP A SAFETYPLAN.THE WOMAN IN THIS CASE TOLD THE COURT SHE HAD RELATIVES STAYING WITH HER A WHILE.SHE SAID RYAN THREATENED HER WITH A KNIFE A FEW WEEKS AGO ANDTHIS TIME STRUCK HER WITH A GUN.SAFE HOME'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING TO YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN. >> WE CAN HELP GIVE YOU OPTIONS AND RESOURCES AND HELP YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE.REPORTER: THE AREA'S SEVEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS FIELDS MORE THAN 35,000 HOT LINECALLS EACH YEAR.IN JOHNSON COUNTY, CALL SAFE HOME AT 913-262-2868, OR YOU CANCALL THE METRO-WIDE CRISIS HOTLINE AT 616 HOTLINE.CALL TAKERS ANSWER THOSE LINES 24/7 AND WE'RE TWEETING THOSE NUMBERS OUT TO YOU AS WE SPEAK.

Across the country, domestic violence experts say a woman is beaten or assaulted every nine seconds.

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Overland Park Police responded to one of those calls this week – and they’re calling this an extreme case.

38-year-old Ryan Gaughan is charged with kidnapping, battery, and making a criminal threat in the case that left his estranged wife pistol-whipped and in the hospital.

It happened at her Overland Park home.

“We take all domestic calls very seriously,” said Overland Park Police Officer John Lacy.

Court documents show the victim originally filed for a temporary restraining order back in December.

In that order, the woman outlines a build-up of abuse. She said her husband’s violence continued to escalate, and she was living her life in fear.

“We want you to call and talk to the police as soon as possible,” said Lacy. “Give us a call. We need to know about this, and we need to stop it.”

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women, and one in four men have been physically abused by an intimate partner. And one out of every five cases involved a weapon.

“There is help available,” said Janee Hanzlick with Johnson County’s Safehome.

“Safehome is more than a shelter, you know. Call us. We’re here. It’s free. It’s confidential.”

Safehome counsels people about setting up a safety plan.

The woman in this case told the court that she had relatives staying with her for a while

She says Ryan Gaughan threatened her with a knife a few months ago. This time, he struck her with a gun.

Safehome’s mission is to prevent violence from happening to you, or to your children.

“We can give you options and resources and help. You know that you’re not alone.”

The metro’s seven domestic violence shelters field more than 35,000 hotline calls each year.

In Johnson County you can call Safehome at 913-262-2868. Or, you can call a metro-wide crisis hotline at 816-HOTLINE. Those numbers are staffed 24-7.